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Union County approves payments for regional autopsy services as county plans standalone facility
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved expenditures to cover current autopsy services provided under the Southern Piedmont Regional Autopsy Center arrangement and heard a multi‑year timeline for a standalone facility that county staff said should include some onsite lab capacity.
Union County commissioners voted to authorize expenditures for autopsy services provided through the Southern Piedmont Regional Autopsy Center (SPRAC) and heard staff outline plans and timelines for a standalone autopsy facility.
County staff said SPRAC has performed at least 15 autopsies to date and currently serves Union, Cabarrus and Stanly counties. Staff told commissioners toxicology testing for some cases is still sent to the state lab in Raleigh; local toxicology capacity will be included in the planned standalone facility once built. Design of the new facility is expected to take about 9–15 months, with roughly two years for construction — a timeline staff described as “about three years” total before the new center is fully operational.
Commissioner Gary Sides asked staff about current case volumes, which counties are being served and whether toxicology must still be sent to Raleigh. SPRAC staff said the center has already performed more than 15 autopsies and that, where needed, toxicology would continue to be sent to Raleigh until local lab capacity is available. Staff also said the county is negotiating design contracts and working on initial site planning because the proposed site is near an area being considered for a new jail, requiring coordinated site engineering.
Commissioner Sides moved to approve the expenditures for autopsy services as proposed; the board approved the motion by voice vote. Staff said the county has hired a new business manager to help develop regional relationships and to manage SPRAC operations as the county transitions from hospital‑based autopsies toward a regional, standalone center.
